Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Although the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma is evolving, hepatic resection remains the treatment of choice for many patients. Resection is associated with a 5-year survival rate of 50% but also a 70% recurrence rate.1,2,3 Thus, for most patients, resection is not a cure. Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after resection or local ablation with heat generated by high-frequency radio waves can be classified as early or late. Early recurrence occurs within weeks or months after treatment and has been attributed to either incomplete initial treatment or micrometastases within the liver but outside the treated field. Late recurrence, defined as recurrence more . .
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/359/19/2045